Macao has transformed from a small fishing port, into today’s world-famous “Las Vegas of the East”. With its cityscape under rapid transformation, in what form will the “Freespace” of Macao be presented? Through its centuries-old history, a rich variety of Chinese, Western and even the fusion of both architectures have been erected on this land, and they have become World Heritage sites. In the last few decades, boosted by rapid economic growth, international style high-rise buildings have mushroomed, alongside recently built mega casinos and hotels; altogether creating a dazzling metropolitan kaleidoscope. However, Macao locals always lament the lack of human touch in the cosmopolitan Macao. Therefore, through exploring the theme of “Freespace”, we hope to discover spatial elements which can hatch unique local atmosphere. Travelling through alleys and high-rise buildings, we found the resonance between people and space in the most ordinary locations in everyday life: from the open-air street market on Rua da Emenda to Lou Lim Ieoc Garden, from dense high-rise housings, to the stairs leading to the Ruins of St. Paul’s.

 

There is an “interaction” in these spaces showing unique vitality; and more importantly, the local atmosphere unintentionally gives the particular space a sense of human touch. This is the “Freespace” of Macao that we want to present, which we call “Unintended Architecture”.

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澳門從一個小漁港，發展成今日知名的“東方拉斯維加斯”，在城市面貌高速變換的環境下，屬於澳門的自由空間會以甚麼形式呈現？在幾百年的歷史裡，這塊土地上築起了各種中式、西式、甚至揉合兩者的建築，今已成為世界文化遺產。而近幾十年的經濟高速發展，國際化的高樓林立，大型賭場、酒店陸續建成，拼湊出五光十色的大都會畫面。然而作為土生土長的澳門人，總會慨嘆，國際化的大都會中欠缺了一些人情味。我們想藉“自由空間”的主題去探討，尋找能孵化出本土氣息的空間元素。

 

穿越小巷高樓，我們在生活中最平凡的地方找到了人和空間的共鳴：由義字街的露天市場、盧九花園、稠密的高樓，到大三巴前方的大樓梯，這些空間存在著一種“互動”，展現出獨特的生命力，更重要的，是它們的本土氛圍，無意中為空間賦予了人情味。這，便是我們想要呈現的、屬於澳門的自由空間。我們稱之為“無為構建”。